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(3 / 5)
Shadowshaper #1
There are some things are really loved about Shadowshaper: the fact that the heroine and supporting character’s were persons of color, the whole spirit and shadowshaping mythology, and art’s connection to the spirits. Unfortunately, there was just nothing unique about the story arc to draw me in. The details were different, but the overall story followed the same path as many others that I’ve read: girl discovers supernatural world running alongside her own, girl discovers big bad guy out to do evil things, girl discovers great power within herself and defeats big baddie. It’s a story I’ve read many times in many different iterations, and I just didn’t feel that there wasn’t anything new or innovative about Older’s story.
But I am happy that this book exists. I found the idea of Shadowshaping interesting and I feel like there is a lot more that could be explored. I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. I also have to give a cheer for having a heroine of color, we need more of them. This leads to some great social commentary about racial profiling and inequality. It’s introduced subtly so as not so smack you in the face with it, but is present just enough to make the reader think and start the conversation.
I hope that in the next book, Older stretches the boundaries of the plotline a little bit, and gives us something we aren’t expecting. I’m looking for a plot with a few more twists, turns, and surprises, and not one that just follows a standard formula.